Lodge



Jan. 24, 1956 A. LODGE 2,731,982

WATER SUPPLY CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1952 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALVIN Loose Zuzflm m FIG-3 FIE-4- Jan. 24, 1956 A. LODGE 2,731,982

WATER SUPPLY CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 19. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 77 72 1| E III a: l 5i m 56 (.4 I 7 3| y z I INVENTOR. -A|.v m Loose United States Patent WATER SUPPLY CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Alvin Lodge, Erie, Pa., assignor to Blackstone Corporation, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,475

8 Claims. (Cl. 137607) to be coupled with a cam mechanism operable in predetermined sequences to supply water to the receptacle in which the various operations take place in the machine. It will be understood, of course, that 'the invention is fully applicable to, and will improve, washing operations in semi-automatic or wholly manually operated machines. It is well known that certain fabrics, for best results, require very hot wash and rinse water and that other fabrics require only warm wash and rinse water, if damage thereto is to be avoided. Also, it is well known, and found to be a desirable procedure to rinse given fabrics in water of substantially the same temperature in which these fabrics had been washed.

The present disclosure deals directly with the provision of a particular combination of water valves and control mechanism. This, therefore, constitutes its principal object.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means for setting hot and cold water valves in such a manner that when the water supply is turned on, either manually or automatically, the temperature of the water supplied to the washing machine will be as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means by which hotand cold water valves may, at any time, be set to a desired temperature mixture and will, until reset, give the same temperature mixture with repeated washing and rinsing operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan view of a washing machine in which one form of the invention is embodied, parts of the washing receptacle and machine enclosure being broken away to disclose an automatic water valve operator and a manual temperature setting device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the water valve operator indicated in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the valve operator, being taken as suggested by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged elevational view of the mixing valve, being taken substantially as suggested by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and discloses the arrangement of the hot and cold water handles and control therefor;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and shows the control for the outlet from the mixing valve;

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Fig. 7 is an elevational view taken from the opposite face of the showing in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 is employed to generally designate one type of washing machine to which the present invention is applicable. The machine is only sufiiciently disclosed to enable proper association therewith of the various parts of the invention and, as already mentioned, is of the type known as wholly automatic.

The machine comprises a rectangular cabinet having upstanding side walls 11 and front and rear walls 12 and 13, respectively. Mounted in the lower part of the cabinet is a gear casing 14. Although not shown, the drive means extends upwardly from the center of this gear casing and mounts a rotatable receptacle 16 which is provided with an agitator 17 that operates in an oscillating manner during a clothes Washing operation. The receptacle 16 is so mounted as to be capable of high speed rotation to spin dry the material following a washing and rinsing operation. Inasmuch as the invention is directed solely to a control mechanism by which a given desirable water temperature may be repeatedly obtained and the fact that this is desirable under all circumstances, it is immaterial that the washing machine shown is automatic, as the invention, without in any way effecting its usefulness or applicability, would be of value and constitute a desirable addition to a semi-automatic or manual machine.

As shown in Fig. 1, a shaft 18 extends upwardly from the top of the gear casing 14 and this shaft mounts a disk 19 that is provided with cam surfaces 21 and 22. For a proper disclosure of the invention, it is only necessary to state that the disk 19, when the machine is in operation, rotates at a slow, predetermined rate, and that the cam surfaces, when passing a given point, serve to operate a mechanism that in turn actuates the hereinafter described settable mixing valve. The gear casing 14, adjacent the disk 19, mounts a bracket 23 which consists of a pair of spaced, superposed plates 24. Corresponding ends of these. plates are formed with arms 25. The arms are held in spaced apart relationship and mounted for pivotal movement on the gear casing by means of a pin 26. Inturned flanges 27, on corresponding edges of the plates 24, are provided with extensions 28 and 29 which, when engaged by bolts 31, provide a clamp 32 for one end of a flexible housing 33 that encloses an operative cable 34. Extending inwardly of the body of each plate 24 are recesses 36. Mounted between the plates 24 is a cam follower 37 which, in the present showing, consists of a pair of flat arms 38.0f a generally triangular form. Corresponding corners of the base of these arms receive a pin 39 which mounts a roller 41. The roller is of such diameter that it extends, substantially as shown, beyond the edges of the arms and is in a plane to contact the edge of the disk 19. A pin 42, projecting through plates 24, pivotally secures the other base corner of the arms 38. A side flange .43, on either or both arms 38, provides engagement for one end 44 of a spring 46. The other end 47 of this spring engages a pin 48 that is carried by the plates 24. The small ends of the arms 38 are connected by a pin, 49 which is engaged by one end of the control cable 34.

Adjacent the flanged sides of the plates 24, is located an upstanding lug 51. This lug may be attached to or formed on the top of the gear casing, as found convenient, and mounts a screw 52 that may be secured in any advanced or retracted position, with respect to the lug,

by a lock nut 53. The screw 52 may be turned down to swing bracket 23 into a position such that the roller 41 will approach or contact the edge of the disk 19. Rotation of the disk 19 alternately presents cam surfaces 21 answers and 22 to the roller 41 and at such time the roller, by following the contour of the cam, swings the cam fol lower about its pivot 42 and. this motion of the follower moves the control cable in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2. By reason of the action of spring 46, the roller 41 is caused, when a cam surface is passed, to move again onto the circular edge of the disk 19', and in so doing, swings the follower assembly about pivot 42, thus moving the control cable 34 in the opposite direction. It will be understood that the spring 46 is not intended as the direct means for moving the cable in this last mentioned direction but that other means is provided on the valve structure for this purpose.

Reference is now had more particularly to Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, whereina water mixing unit 54 is shown. This unit includes a generally rectangular base 56 that is provided, in one face thereof, with a shallow, rectangular recess 57. Three openings, 58, 59, and 61, are made in the base wall of this recess. Each opening is defined by an annular rim 62 that extends into the recess, the top edge of the rim being in the plane of this face of the base 56. Integral with the base 56' are inlet connectors 63 and 64. As may be clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5, these connectors are externally threaded, as at 66, for the purpose of providing hose or other attaching means for separate sources of hot and cold water. For purposes of description, it may be assumed that connector 63 is to be connected with a cold water line and connector 64 with a hot water line. The openings 58 and 59 are somewhat offset from the passageways in the connectors. Attached to the base, on the face opposite from the recess 57, is a further connector 67 which is formed with a slip-on hose nipple 68 and gives direct access to the opening 63. This connector and nipple represent the water outlet from the unit, and a suitable hose 69, when attached to the nipple, may extend over the rim and into the receptacle 16, substantially as suggested in Fig. l.

A diaphragm 71 is applied to the recessed face of the plate 56 and rests loosely upon the annular rims 62 of the openings 58, 59, and 61. A top plate 72 is applied to the exposed face of the diaphragm and secures the edges around the recess to the plate 56, in any suitable manner, as by screws 73.

Centrally of the plate 72 are four openings 74, 76, 77, and 78. These openings give access to that face of the diaphragm opposite the recess 57. Openings 74 and 76 are centered with opening 59' and 58, respectively, and opening 77 is aligned with opening 61. Exteriorly of the plate 72, the openings are each defined by collars 79 which are integral with said plate and are connected, one to the other, by web portions 80. The inner end of each of these openings is countersunk to provide an. enlarged area 81 adjacent the diaphragm and into which portions of the diaphragm may deflect under. certain conditions of use of the. unit. Mounted in each of these four openings is a plunger 82. As shown in Figs. and 8, each plunger is formed with a transverse slot 83, the base wall of which is centrally pointed, as at 84, to provide contact for identical rocker arms 85 and 86 for the hot and cold water lines and the outlet from the unit, respectively. Diametrically opposite cuts or slots 87 are made in the collars 79. These slots continue through the web portion 80 to form a continuing slot with respect to pairs of collars. The slots extend the full depth of the collars to the outer face of the plate 72. One rocker arm is mounted in each series of slots 87, substantially as shown in Fig. 7. Near one end, each arm includes an offset 88 which. projects into that portion of the slot 87 extending through the web 80. A pin 89, mounted in the web portion, serves to mount both rocker arms. That portion of eachv of the arms adjacent the offset 88 projects into slots 83 of the plungers and contacts the pointed base 84. Beyond the collar 79, each arm is formed with a lug, 91 which. provides a support. for one end of a spring 92'. The other end of the spring is seated in a slight recess 93 in the with the receptacle 16.

outer face of plate 72. Beyond the lug 91, the arm terminates in an end 94, having a slot 96 which receives one end of an operating cable 97. As is evident in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the plate 72 extends beyond one end of the base 56. Beneath this portion of the plate is one end of a mounting bracket 98. Between the end of the bracket and the plate is located the supporting flange 99 of a clamp 101. Suitable screws 102 secure the bracket 98, flange 99 and plate together. The clamp 101 is conventional and includesv two parts that may be drawn together by a screw 103 and serves the purpose of anchoring one end of a flexible tube 104 that encloses the cable 97. This tube extends from the mixing unit located at the rear of the machine along one side of the casing and is anchored to an enclosure 106 of a control unit. The control unit may include conventional operative parts by which the cable 97 may be moved back and forth within the. tube by rotation. of a control knob 107.

The structural features of the invention having been described, attention is now directed to its operation. For convenience of description, it may be assumed that connector 63' is joined to a suitable source of cold water, and connector 64, to a suitable sourcce of hot water and, as already mentioned, connector 67 and hose 69 connect It is pointed out that with the operative parts of the device in position of rest, rocker arm 85, associated with the hot and cold water inlets, is at rest in one extreme position due to action of the spring 92. This position closes the hot water inlet by depressing the plunger 82 against the diaphragm and thus deflecting the diaphragm into water sealing contact with the rim 62 of the opening thereof. Line pressure, through the opening 58 of the cold water line, deflects the dia phragm away from the rim 62 into contact with the base of the other plunger 82 associated with the rocker arm under discussion. Thus, whatever the water pressure may be in the system, such pressure is found to be in the compartment 57.

The other rocker arm 86, associated with the outlet, also is provided with two plungers, although only one of these plungers is aligned with an opening. The other plunger (see Fig. 6) merely contacts the face of the diaphragm opposite the compartment 57. Water pressure within the compartment deflects the diaphragm into contact with this plunger. This particular rocker arm 86 is also actuated by a spring and yieldingly holds one plunger in a position to deflect a portion of the diaphragm into contact with the rim of the outlet opening 61. It will thus be appreciated that the outlet is provided with two means for assuring deflection ofthe diaphragm to close it. It is, of course, of great importance that, when the machine is not in use, no water will leak into the receptacle 16- from' the unit through" the outlet opening. Should the spring 92 become weakened or out of place and fall to hold the rocker arm in the position of Fig. 6, water pressure within the compartment 57 will accomplish this result and maintain the parts in the position of this figure. It is contemplated that water pressure may vary, and should it become excessively high, the plunger operable to close the outlet might have insufiicient force to prevent leakage. This increased pressure in the line serves, through the diaphragm and one plunger, to supplement the spring 92 in urging greater pressure contact of the diaphragm on the outlet opening. Also, should the line pressure be greatly reduced, action of spring 92 is more than sufficient to hold the diaphragm in water sealing engagement with the rim of the outlet opening'61.

It may be assumed that an operator of the device wishes a fairly hotwater mixture. The control knob 107 is provided with indicia which indicates various positions for any given mixture. Turning the knob operates parts within the enclosure 106 to move the cable 97 in the direction. of the arrow shown in Fig. 5. The cable pivots arm 85, compressing spring 92 and withdrawing its contact from the plunger associated with the hot water line.

Since the water in this line is also under pressure, the diaphragm will be deflected away from the rim 62 of the opening 59, forcing the plunger outwardly of the unit into contact with the withdrawn rocker arm. The enlarged opening or rim 81 allows suflicient deflection of the diaphragm to fully withdraw from the opening 59 and permit entrance of hot water to the compartment 57. The extent to which the arm 85 is pivoted constitutes the extent to which hot water may enter the compartment. Also, simultaneously with the withdrawal of the plunger to allow deflection of the diaphragm away from opening 59, the other plunger associated with this arm is moved to deflect another portion of the diaphragm toward the rim of the cold water inlet opening 58. Thus, the extent to which the cable 97 is moved in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 5 determines the mixture of hot and cold water entering the compartment 57 of the unit. When the above adjustment has been made, the mechanism of the machine may be started and disk 19 will commence to rotate. If the cycle of operation of the machine is just beginning, one of the cam surfaces 21 or 22 of the disk will move into the plane of roller 41, causing said roller to ride outwardly of the cam surface, swing the cam follower and move cable 34 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. As may be observed in Fig. 6, the other end of cable 34 is connected with the rocker arm 86 and, thus, this arm will be pivoted against tension of spring 92 to withdraw the outermost plunger from the diaphragm. The pressure of the water within the compartment 57 deflects the diaphragm away from the rim 62 of opening 61 and allows water to flow from the outlet through hose 69 into the receptacle. As soon as the cycle of filling the receptacle is completed, and this is generally determined by the extent of cam surface 21 or 22 and the rotational speed of the disk 19, the surface moves out of the plane of roller 41, allowing the cam follower, under urgency of springs 46 and 92, to return to the position shown in Fig. 1 and returning the rocker arm 86 for the outlet to the position shown in Fig. 6. If the machine to which the invention is applied .is of the wholly automatic type, a second filling of the receptacle will be required for a rinsing operation of the same articles that have previously been washed and, of course, it is desirable that the temperature of the water be the same for both of these operations. When the rinsing operation is to take place, the other of the cam surfaces of the disk 19 actuates the cam follower and cable 34 and again opens the outlet of the unit. Of course, the control knob 107 remains in the same position, thus the mixture of hot and cold water entering the compartment 57 and passing into the outlet 61 will be as previously. It is apparent variable proximity with either of said inlets, and other means for deflecting a portion of said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet, said other means being responsive to deflection of said diaphragm under compulsion of water pressure in said compartment.

2. Mechanism for controlling the flow of hot and cold water comprising a mixing unit having a shallow interior compartment, hot and cold water inlets opening into said compartment, an outlet connected with said compartment, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlets and said outlet, manually operable means'engaged with portions of said diaphragm opposite said inlets, said means being operable to deflect said diaphragm into variable proximity and pressure contact with said inlets whereby to set and determine the extent of water entering said compartment from said inlets, and means responsive to. water pressure in said compartment operable to deflect said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet. V

3. Mechanism for controlling the flow of hot and cold water comprising a mixing unit having a shallow interior compartment, hot and cold water inlets opening'into said compartment, an outlet connected with said compartment, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlets and said outlet, manually operable means engaged with portions of said diaphragm opposite said inlets, said means being operable to deflect said diaphragm into variable pressure contact with said inlets whereby to set and determine the extent of water entering said compartment from said inlets, and other means for deflecting a portion of said diaphragm into contact with said outlet, said other means, in part, being responsive to deflection of said diaphragm under compulsion of water pressure in said compartment.

4. Mechanism for controlling the flow of hot and cold water comprising a mixing unit having a shallow interior compartment, hot and cold water inlets opening into said compartment, an outlet connected with said compartment, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlets and said outlet, a pair of plungers projecting into said compartment and contacting said diaphragm opposite said inlets, a rocker arm engaged with and operable to move either of said plungers to deflect said diaphragm into varying proximity and pressure contact with said inlets, manually operable means for actuating said rocker arm, and other means responsive to water pressure in said compartment for deflecting said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet.

from the foregoing that any water mixture may be obtained by simply rotating the control knob .107 to adjust the plungers relating to the inlet openings. It will also be apparent that, regardless of any change in water pressure in the line, or even with excessively high pressure, there can be no leakage from the unit to the outlet even though water within the compartment of the unit is under such pressure.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of his invention, it will be apparent that details may be modified as required to adapt the invention to washing machines other than the type shown and such modifications or variations are considered as being within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as they are set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism for controlling the flow of hot and cold water to a receptacle comprising a mixing unit having an interior compartment, hot and cold water inlets opening into said compartment, an outlet connected with said compartment, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlets and said outlet, means engageable with and operable to deflect said diaphragm into 5. Mechanism for controlling the flow of hot and cold water comprising a mixing unit having a shallow interior compartment, hot and cold water inlets opening into said compartment, an outlet connected with said compartment, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlets and said outlet, a pair of plungers projecting into said compartment and contacting said diaphragm opposite said inlets, a rocker arm engaged with and operable to move either of said plungers to deflect said diaphragm into varying pressure contact with said inlets, a further set of plungers projecting into said compartment and contacting said diaphragm, one of said further plungers being opposite said outlet, 21 further rocker arm engaged with and operable to move the one further plunger to deflect said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet and means for actuating said further rocker arm.

6. Mechanism for controlling the flow of water comprising a unit having an interior shallow compartment, an inlet opening through one side of said compartment, an outlet connected with said one side, a diaphragm in said compartment overlying the openings of said inlet and said outlet, and means for deflecting a portion of said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet, said means being responsive to deflection of said diaphragm under compulsion of water pressure in said compartment.

7. Mechanism for controlling the flow of water comprising a unit having an interior compartment, an inlet opening. through oneside' of said compartment, an outlet connected with said one side, a diaphragm constituting an opposite side to said compartment and overlying the openings of said inlet and said outlet, and means for manually deflecting a portion of said diaphragm into sealing contact with said outlet, said means, in part, being responsive to deflection of said diaphragm under compulsion of water pressure in said compartment.

8. Mechanism for controlling the flow of Water comprising a unit having an interior compartment, an inlet opening through one side of said compartment, an outlet connected with said one side, a diaphragm constituting an opposite side to said compartment and overlying the openings of said inlet and said outlet, a set of plungers projecting into saidcompartment and contacting said diaphragm on the side opposite said outlet connection, a rocker arm engaged with said plungers, said arm being operable to yieldingly move one of said plungers' to deflect said diaphragm into sealing engagement with said outlet, the other of said plungers being responsive to deflection of said diaphragm under compulsion of Water pressure in said compartment to further urge said one plunger in a direction to effect full sealing engagement of said diaphragm with said outlet.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,314 N'oftzger et a1. Apr. 14, 1931 2,055,254 Hanney Sept. 22, 1936 2,272,510 Chamberlin Feb. 10, 1942 2,444,631 Chace July 6, 1948 2,503,901 Chace Apr. 11, 1950 2,519,448 Fairchild, Aug. 22, 1950 2,554,566 Geldhof et al. May 29, 1951 2,562,610 Geldhof et' a1. July 31, 1951 2,591,293 Reeves Apr. 1, 1.952 2,607,207 Branson Aug. 19, 1952 2,608,213 Hruby, Jr Aug. 26, 1952 

